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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / November 2005Keppra
Hi, I've been on Keppra for about 5 years +, starting with a drug trial at Birmingham University Hospital, UK. with Dr. T. Betts. Currently I'm on 4,000 mg per day, along with 700mg lamictal I'm a pretty big bloke but only 6'1'' and fairly overweight. I'm beginning to wonder if my system is beginning to develop a tolerance to the drug. I have been suffering from JME since I was 11 and have suffered with it for 39 years. I was wondering if anyone else had found this, or an increase in 'side effects' of the drug after about this period of time? I've been on Keppra (3500mg per day) and Lamictal (600mg) for 4 years. The only tolerance I have built up is not tremoring as much now from Lamictal. I take the evening dose of Lamictal very early (mid-afternoon), as instructed by my neurologist so I can sleep at night. I'm 6'5" 250 lbs. Keppra is the only thing I have ever taken that has controlled my seizures almost totally, after 30 of my 41 years. The only problem is working or exercising too hard, or not enough sleep - it triggers simple partials and I have to pop 2mg of Lorazepam (Ativan) which knocks me out. Lorazepam is only to be taken for simple partials only when necessary, because you can easily build up a tolerance to it where it will not control them any longer. Keppra and Lamictal are said to be the "dynamite combination" by my neuro., head of seizure research at Vanderbilt University. <removed important stuff of earlier post about primary meds. being used> The only problem is working or exercising too hard, or not > enough sleep - it triggers simple partials and I have to pop 2mg of > Lorazepam (Ativan) which knocks me out. Lorazepam is only to be taken > for simple partials only when necessary, because you can easily build > up a tolerance to it where it will not control them any longer. Keppra > and Lamictal are said to be the "dynamite combination" by my neuro., > head of seizure research at Vanderbilt University. I assume but you didn't say, that this is the Sublingual type of Ativan? If, for example, you are swallowing those (if it is), that might make you sleep more quickly than just using it the correct way. I tend to sleep an hour or 2 after I used it too, but mine as the Sublingual type, is designed to dissolve under the tongue and enter the bloodstream from there more quickly. I don't know if it would work as well anyway if I swallowed it. But it sure helped as I got within the last 5-10% of the seizures I had been having, and managed to control last of the Simple Partials (Auras) + allowed me to continue with what I was doing. I had thought that Ativan was the 'magic elixor' the ancients were looking for, as it brought my type of auras, that preceded a stronger seizure, under control in Under 10 minutes- Amazing (for me). Too bad it doesn't prevent aging too !! :-< G./ G, Its the little white pills, they work immediately for me. If I've had a cup of joe or two it doesn't make me drowsy. Yeah, I know, I should limit my addiction to caffiene. Until Keppra, just drinking 1 cup would give me simple partials. Man, does my addiction make me the runt of the litter. In other words lagging behind in progress, or "sucking hind tit," as we rednecks say. I have built up a little tolerance possibly, because sometimes it takes 2mg instead of 1mg of Lorazepam to stop it. E.B. > limit my addiction to caffiene. Until Keppra, just drinking 1 cup > would give me simple partials. Just curious, what sort of SP would coffee lead to in your case? /\ ole k  SignatureIf a problem can't be solved, then what is the use of worrying? If a problem can be solved, then what is the need of worrying? (Shantideva) The SP is something I have had for over 30 years. It started as a deja vu-like episode, but over the years it has changed to a weird feeling that I can't even explain. I feel it in my chest (sort of) like I did with the deja vu. Its a warning sign for bigger ones. I just hate decaf coffee and tea. The decaf green tea w/ ginseng gives me a little pickup though. > The SP is something I have had for over 30 years. It started as a deja > vu-like episode, but over the years it has changed to a weird feeling > that I can't even explain. I feel it in my chest (sort of) like I did > with the deja vu. Its a warning sign for bigger ones. I just hate > decaf coffee and tea. The decaf green tea w/ ginseng gives me a little > pickup though. Thanks for your reply. I just checked som highlighted postings from this group earlier this year, and found that you were having the same reactions as me when it comes to concentration as a trigger for SP. I've also got that chest thing which you described (september this year). I never thought of checking this when it comes to coffee, though, as I'm normally having a heavy tea drinking habit, just having some short periods with coffee with my breakfast. Perhaps quitting both these things for some time would be a good idea . . . You could also try the (South African?) Rooibos (sp), which is recommended by lots of people because of its health benefits and total lack of coffeine. /\ ole k SignatureIf a problem can't be solved, then what is the use of worrying? If a problem can be solved, then what is the need of worrying? (Shantideva) > Thanks for your reply. I just checked som highlighted postings from this > group earlier this year, and found that you were having the same > reactions as me when it comes to concentration as a trigger for SP. I've > also got that chest thing which you described (september this year). God, you two lucky buggers! When I get Simple Partials, they always seem to come without any sort of sign whatsoever, so my tea always seems to get spilt all over the floor or my clothes when I have one. By the way, as I can also get multiple seizures without any warnings either, my neuro gives me diazepam to take afterwards to stop the awful headaches and get to sleep, but added that they were addictive and therefore shouldn't be used too often. I just hope BT hasn't gotten addicted to his Keppra over all these years he's been using it. All the best Sofie SignaturePlease visit my deviantART page: http://sofen.deviantart.com/ > G, > Its the little white pills, they work immediately for me. If I've had [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > stop it. > E.B. I don't know if it would help (I haven't used Keppra), but if you can buy it, you could try Swiss Water processed Decaffeinated. Some of the other types can taste pretty awful. But that method keeps the flavour without adding chemicals to remove 80% or more of the caffeine. I drink a significant amount of coffee if I'm home all day. If I stopped, the economy of Columbia would collapse !! :-< Even if I'm out most of the day, I have the equivalent of about 2 4-cup pots each day. If weather or ?? keeps me home I have more. But I have mostly Decaf. after about 5PM. Unless you use Healthfood or Fruit flavoured teas, most regular teas also have caffeine in them, although a lesser amount. I can get 'half caff' or above Decaff. here for late in the day. (Are the Lorazepam the Sublingual type, you put under your tongue? Or does the bottle say that? Some people here were swallowing those last year, but the sublingual type is the one you put under your tongue until it gets into the bloodstream from there. I often get tired an hour or two after I've had to use that type, as it's a relaxant. But it worked as I got within 2-3% of full control. I haven't needed one since about last spring now. ) G./
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